Step by Step

If you have been following my Instagram any time in the last year, you will have noticed a lot of pics of my shoes. (if you haven't been following me, you should! I'm neat! @craftygirl_tk)  I've been walking A LOT. Aiming for the daily goal of 10,000 steps per day. Yep, you heard it. Ten. Thousand.

That's the 'average' daily amount that you should walk to maintain fitness, set by someone, somewhere.

I have a bunch of weight to get rid of, and walking is just so convenient and cost effective, so it's my exercise of choice at the moment.

I don't get to 10,000 every day, but I don't beat myself up about it.

Trying to create a new lifestyle with new habits is a hard, slow process, especially when you have things so ingrained. It has to be done though. I have been told I have IRS, Insulin Resistance Syndrome. And I really don't want it to get to diabetes any time soon.

After a year of walking pretty much every day, I've slowly noticed improvements - I can walk further, and I can carry on a conversation at the same time as well. Hills and steps are definitely still my nemesis, but they are getting easier. And all of this activity is helping to keep the Black Dog at bay, too.

So if you need me, I'll probably be out walking ;)

Tracey xox

Floods & Fires

This week we had a HUGE storm in Sydney, and a friend's house was damaged by a flash flood. Her family were lucky to make it out of their house before the downstairs was completely submerged in water. Seriously, they were on the news and everything.

Seeing the pictures of their destroyed house has brought back some memories for me of the year that my family went through some devastation of our own.

Back when I was 10, our year contained both a flood AND a fire.

We were staying at a friends property for the Easter holidays when it and the neighbouring properties flooded. All of the kids were sent to higher ground, so I don't have many memories of the actual flood, but I do know that they travelled around in boats, trying to get things sorted and to save the stuff that was washing away.

After that drama, our year was relatively quiet (as far as I recall) until the end of November when we lost most of our home in a house fire.

We were all home, Mum out sewing a dress for a dancing competition, my sister was in bed and I was watching a video with Dad and our neighbour who I was having a sleepover with.  The fire started in garage, so luckily we weren't trapped and there was time for us to leave safely once we noticed it.  Unfortunately Dad lost all of his music equipment, tools, Square Dance records, and we lost our bikes and even my beloved roller skates!

our garage was on the left, that's the garage door frame laying on the driveway

our lounge room - you can see through to the garage

It was a really scary night, and it wasn't just the fire that caused damage - we lost many family photos and electrical items to water damage.  Our insurance only covered the building, none of the contents. We were lucky enough to have lots of our neighbours, family and friends rally around us to support us. An army of people showed up the next day to clear the house out. We had people take clothes and other items to clean them, and my parents Square Dancing friends held fundraisers for us to help buy the major white goods.  People gave us copies of photos to help replace the memories that we lost. I've since learnt, after seeing it many, many times on the TV, that this is the true Aussie spirit showing through.

the kitchen with the roof caved in

even in the rooms that weren't burnt, you can see the smoke and water damage. dig those retro arches!

We rebuilt, and moved about 4 years later into the house that my parents still live in, a new area, new schools (ha, I remember changing school being WAY more traumatic than the fire). And it will be 26 years ago in a few weeks. Some things stay with you though. I ALWAYS try to seek out the source if I smell smoke. I'm overly attached to the precious photos that we were able to replace.  Deep down I know though, that you will always be okay, even if you lose everything, as long as you survive, because the days go on, and roller skates can be replaced, and one day you realise that you haven't thought about it in so long that it was nearly forgotten.


Tracey xox

February Round Up

February found me back in the full swing of work, Grandpa duties and keeping up with life.

I kicked off February with a girls day at Hair Time Hairdressers, hanging out with Jodie, Mum & Leasie. A much needed and long overdue haircut later, and I felt a little more human.

Early in Feb we celebrated our 3 year wedding anniversary. Apparently the traditional gift for 3 years is leather. But for us, it was sushi dinner. Much love and rice xxoo

I finally got to the Ramsgate Organic Foodies Market with Melle, where we sampled the wares, and of course had a Madame Pop!

Now that all of her munchkins are in school, I've been heading over to Louise's on a Friday to do some scrapping and chatting. Still working on the album for my cousin, but I'm really happy now with how it is shaping up. Still haven't started any more Project life, but I will get there. I think.

My sister has launched her own venture into business and started a Stampin Up business and blog. She has named her business Tracey's Sister, and I recommend you read her blog post here to find out all about it. I'm pretty proud of her now that she's "All growed up", LOL.

I'm still walking, though now I'm back at work its not as often as it should be.  And we snuck in a casual reunion BBQ for our old Rotaract crew.

It was definitely a busy, busy, busy month!

Tracey xox

Starting Project Life

I've taken the plunge and started a Project Life album.

So far I've only done a title page, but since I don't think I'm aiming for a traditional weekly spread I should be able to get January sorted soon. I've even printed some photos! (This is my biggest obstacle - I rarely remember to print photos. I'm so disorganised) 

I'm really just hoping to record more about our life and the crazy things we sometimes get up to, but also done of the day to day things that we sometimes overlook. Plus I assume there will be lots of photos of Turtle.

The cards I've used are a mix of MAMBI cards and Studio Calico. Matt gave me a subscription to the Studio Calico PL kit for Christmas. Lucky!

Anybody out there also starting to PL? 

Tracey* xox 

Resolutions, New Year Style.

2013.

I think I succinctly summed it up on my fb status as "Well, that's over."

We had some fun times, and happy days. But I spent the year fighting some big personal battles and eventually ended up with the news that I had to make massive lifestyle changes. Immediately.

Luckily I'm now a few weeks in to the 'New Me' and am feeling so much better.  So in the spirit of change here are my New Years Resolutions. I figure if they are here then I am more accountable and more likely to stick with them.  So of them are perennials for previous years, as why not?

• Wear more dresses
• Kiss more
• Walk every day
• Stick to my food plan
• Dive into Project Life
• Stay organised
• Be more comfortable with self promotion
• Post more on both blogs
• Less TV-more scrapping

I also have a few other goals that aren't really resolutions, such as save to get to CHA in 2015 (and save to get more in the house fund), increase our web traffic to the Dizzy Izzy store, expand our handmade items range, and continue our success with our Scrap Retreats.

My One Little Word for the year is TODAY. But I think I will still also revisit last years word as well, which was MAKE. Together, they pretty much sum up what I hope to get out of the year.

Lets see how it all goes.

Tracey xx

Sunday Afternoon...

Just scrapping away, playing with inks and sprays on this lovely sunny Sunday afternoon.

I have the house to myself so I get to pick the soundtrack.

                                                  

I can recommend heading to his website getting a copy of this album for free... beautiful music from the lead singer of The Beautiful Girls.

Happy Scrapping,

Trace* xox

Sore Back = Time For Stitching

Last week I was pretty messed up with a bad back. An hour long deep tissue massage aggravated a long standing inflammation problem I have. Combine that with the set up and pack down involved in running a Crafternoon, and by Sunday night I couldn't sleep and could barely move.

The doctor prescribed a bunch of pills, rest and some physio sessions. This meant for the week I couldn't drive myself anywhere, or do much of anything, really.

For me, that much down time is scary and guilt inducing. Wasted time - not my idea of fun when there is so much to do!  So I passed the time by trying to complete some stitching projects that are way overdue. I really am a slow cross stitcher!

Luckily I had Turtle to keep me company! The 'Keep Calm' project was meant to be a gift for Fleur's 30th birthday - I've only got less than a month until it becomes 1 year overdue - luckily only one and a bit letters to go!

I will post some pics once they are all finished and framed, but since I go back to work tomorrow, who knows when that will happen??

Tracey* xox

OMG!!

On Sunday I got to meet and do a make n take with one of my scrapping idols Amy Tan. OMG!!!

If you aren't familiar with Amy's scrapping, she is the designer behind the Amy Tangerine lines from American Crafts, and you can check out her work here at her blog. I love her awesome use of colour, and her layouts and handmade embellishments really speak to me. And did I mention her Daybooks? Divine!

She is currently touring through Australia (and then NZ) through Spotlight to promote her lines now being sold at their stores. (ahem... they have been sold at Dizzy Izzy since Day 1!)

I dragged Matt along to Spotlight Miranda so he could take photos, and hung out near the Make N Take table they had set up, waiting for her to arrive like a creepy stalker.

With Amy

Amy and I chatted while we waited for the make n take to be set up. It was so exciting to tell her about my scrapping story and Dizzy Izzy. She laughed when I told her I have been too scared to post a comment on her blog, and encouraged me to blog more (and here it is, lol!).

The crazy thing is.... no one else came! Just weird considering she was swamped that morning in Melbourne. Oh well, I'm not going to lie... I loved it! I had Amy all to myself for an hour - who else can say that?? You hear that other people - you snooze, you loose!

Matt gets his craft on...

So Matt and I got to make a card with Amy, using her fun products. She taught Matt how to use a border punch and we got to chat some more about how she got started scrapping, and how her collaboration with American Crafts came about. We also heard about some of her favourite things coming out soon in the new Ready Set Go line like a date stamp & sheer letters - I can't wait to check them out in person.

Amy snapped this one 'just pretend you're being crafty'

 

I was even lucky enough to get a signed Amy Tangerine apron - you can bet that will be making an appearance at the Crafternoon this Saturday. PLUS she gave me a make n take kit to give away as a prize at the next retreat! Awesome!

Signing my apron

The big thing that I got from this was how much Amy loves creating - and it comes through in everything she does. She is living the crafty life and loves what she does. How lucky am I that I get to do what I love as well?

Happy Scrapping,

Tracey

sick, but still stitching!

I've been a little under the weather for the last week or so. After having a cold a few weeks ago, I thought I had finally shaken it, so I resumed swimming laps at the local pool.

I was wrong.

Unfortunately, the next 48 hours were awful. I dragged myself to work only to be told by the boss to go home (thanks, Dad! xox) and spent my time curled up on the lounge with a blankie and the cat, wishing I would die.

I have improved slightly, but the horrible, gross cough remains. Yuck.

On the bright side, I've caught up on some Dizzy Izzy work, played ALOT of Draw Something, AND I've been getting in a little cross stitching. Yay!

Here's some highlights:-

cat + blankie = toasty warm love

can you guess it? lol

what a poor me!

Easter breakfast made by My Man

just after I had to unpick a whole section... doh!

I hope you are all well out there!

XOXO

Retreats

I've been lucky enough to go to two scrapbooking retreats in the last month, which for me is something akin to scrapbooking heaven.

Especially as one of them I was just a customer. That's right. No organising music, or games, or taking massage bookings or working a shop or teaching classes.  Just me, my friends and a whole lot of scrapping.

But did I get any more layouts done in all the extra time I had?


Of course not.

I did have fun though. And I am pretty happy with the pages I've been doing lately, some of which are below for your scraplifting enjoyment.

I've also learned a valuable scrap lesson - I'm getting way too old to stay up until 5:30am scrapping. I can't pull up the next day like I used to, and the pages I produce in the wee hours of the morning.... well.... they rhyme with scrap, lets just put it that way. So - could this be the end of my scrapbook all nighters??

Thanks to Lisa over at Storyboard Kits for organising a really lovely weekend, full of fantastic challenges that pushed me out of my scraping comfort zone. And to Kristen who organised the retreat at Collaroy full of such lovely scrappers.



Sassafrass papers and Prima & Sass embellishments.
And yes, thats little me!

using papers & embellishments from one of Lisa's
Storyboard Kits

colour palette challenge - way outside my comfort zone.
LOVE my new Martha Stewart border punch!

washi tape... sigh. just love it!
this layout was inspired by Diane Payne's layout in
Scrapbook Trends Magazine March 2012

happy scrapping!

Trace* xox

my random life

Well, life has been hectic lately as usual.

I've had Australia Day

I've been finding inspiration from unusual sources

and driving my Grandpa all over the place

I've even found a few minutes here and there to take a break and read a scrapping magazine or two

and I celebrated my first wedding anniversary

and yes, I have been keeping up with my Project 366, even though I haven't been posting them!

2012 - the year of weddings

Well, we are 2 weeks into 2012 and I've already been to 2 weddings and have 1 yet to come. That's right, LOVE is in the air.
First off, we had Michael (or Borgy to his friends) & Tamasin's big day, which was a beautiful and elegant affair, with one of the most emotional bridal entrances I've ever seen. I think this was the biggest wedding I've been to - 250 guests! Tamasin's mum and sisters also sang opera arias during the ceremony - wow! Just WOW!

blessed be

Aww!!!

gotta love cake that looks beautiful & tastes delicious!

close up of the Bird toppers - delightful!

Then a few days later we had Jonathan (or Jash to his friends - yep Matt's friends all have nicknames) and Caroline's lovely day. Beautiful weather, great food and friends plus the scrabble theme made this such a fun day.

bridal party

the happy couple

the scrabble cake!

sharing their love of scrabble

I made cards for both weddings but forgot to grab a pic of the first one. Here is the second one, made from some leftover KaiserCraft paper.

It was lovely to share both days with the happy couples, and I'm curious to see if we attend any more weddings this year before we head off on Nikki & Bob's wedding cruise/our belated honeymoon. Enjoy the pics!

Trace* xox

it's my birthday, I'll post late if I want to... (plus Project 366)

late if I want to...
It was a busy week here in crafty girl land and that means my usual blog update is very, very late.
My Man and I have been celebrating my birthday with fancy dinners and trips to Jenolan Caves. It's been a lovely week, but now it's time to get back to work!

I've decided to document the coming year of my life, which I am sure is going to be a crazy and surprising one, with a new husband, a new business & new Rotary projects to tackle. So I'm jumping on the bandwagon a little late by doing a Project 365. You know the one, where you take and share a photo each day for a year. Except since my year will be from July 6 2011 to July 6 2012, it will be a Project 366 because of the leap year. Here's hoping that extra photo will be a kicker!

So, since I'm posting this a little late, I'm going to share not only the first photo, but numbers 2, 3 & 4 as well!

1|celebrating 33 @ the Summit. make a wish

















2|sparkle, sparkle. Jenolan caves





















3|awesome surprise. awesome dinner




















4|turtle thinks our suitcase is her new bed




















I'll post them all on facebook, and a selection will make the blog.
Hopefully it will be a fun record of an awesome year!
Trace xo